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Tu e e h S e e h S 2 SM R w O DD B Am m. d o M 0 W ART OP DREDG-ING.

C Patented May 26, 1885.

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N. PETERS. Pnnmvutnognphnr. wnhington. ILC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

A. B. BOWERS.

ART 0E DREDGING. N0. 318,860. Patented May 26, 1885.

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ALPHONZO B. BOVERS, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALFORNIA.

ART OF DREDGING.

Application iilcd Api-i121, 1835.

To all whom z5 may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHoNZo B. BowEns, civil engineer, residing at SanFrancisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of Cali iornia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Dredging, ofwhich the following is a specification, thisapplication being a divisionof my application tiled December 9, 1876, renewed Aprill, 1879.

This invention relates to dredging; and it consists in certainimprovements in the art of dredging by which the dredge-boatniay beconveniently moved int-o operative position, and worked to advantage insuch position, my said art of dredging also including methods by whichthe excavated material is raised and conveyed to a distance; also, inmethods by which the excavated material may be forced to avcry'considerahle distance andthe eonduit prevented from choking, thesesteps, constituting my improvement, being hereinafter pointed out in theclaims.

1 do not herein claim the apparatus described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, nor the method ofraising submerged pipes, thesame being claimed in other divisions of my original application,hereinbefore referred to; but this apparatus can be conveniently used tocarry my improvements, herein set forth, into operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan oi' a portion ot' my dredgingapparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical fore-and-aft section of a portion ofthehull through the well, in which rotates the turn -table with a side viewof the turntable, vertical anchors, and hoist-ing apparatus. Fig. 3 is avertical cross-section of a portion of the hull through thecounter-balance cylinder and longitudinal well, showing, also, an endview of the bucket-wheel and the arrangement ot' the counter-balance andhoisting apparatus. Fig. 4C is a view of the inner chamber or shield,around which the bucketwheel usually revolves. Fig. 5 is alongitudinalsection through the discal ends of the bucket-wheel in the line s s,Fig. 8, showing, also, where the shaft It is secured to the hub of thecutting-wheel, and the outlines of two of the buckets i. connecting thediscal ends Between these buckets is shown a longitudinal section of theinner chamber, T. and shaftlt and bearingof this shaft It. Fig. G

isvafside view of the bucket-wheel excavator. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionofthe bucket-wheel,

'l IICATEON {en ing pari'. of Letters Patent No. 318,860, dated lVIay26, 1885.

(No model with'its buoys 4 4, submerged discharge-pipefn,

5, resting upon the bottom, (over which a vessel is represented aspassing) and guys 6 6 for holding the discharge-pipe in proper position.Fig. 10 is a plan of the dredging and transporti ng apparatus, showing,also, a representation of a vessel passing over the discharge pipe, andof the cut made by the dredger as it swings from sido to side. Fig. 1lis an en larged crosssection of the discharge pipeC' and hollow floats1?. Fig. 12 is a view of the under part of a section of thedischarge-pipe,

showing numerous openings therein for the escape of the heavier andeoarser material,

while the water and lighter material are propelled onward to a furtherpoint of discharge. l do not confine myself to any peculiar form orarrangement of openings, one or more of' which may be placed anywherealong said conduit where it may he desirable to dischargea portion ofthe spoil. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side and part sectional view of themud-receiver, with its pipes, valves, and relay-pump, showing how thecharging and discharging of a large receiver may be facilitated by theduplication ofthe branches and valves Y Z. Fig. 1a is an enlargedcross-section of the mud-receiver X.

In all these gures like letters indicate like parts.

A is a floating vessel, that carries the en gines, boilers, and dredgingmachinery. It is shown in this instance with an elongated longitudinalwell for the reception of the swinging portion of the suction-pipe.

B is a large pump, that draws the spoils from the bucket-s of theexcavator up the suction-pipe and forces them through the discharge-pipe to a place of deposit.

B, Fig. 13, is a relay-pump or other auXil iary discharging apparatus,sometimes used in connection with a primary transporting appa ratus tocarry the spoils to a greater distance than could conveniently be donebythe original agent, power, or pump, or than would be practicablewithout subjecting the apparatus to a pressure that might endanger someof the parts, or without the use of heavier or more expensive apparatusthan would be desirable for ordinary purposes. It may also be used fordischarging the receiver X, and for ex hausting water from pipe C, (whensaid pipe is submerged,) for the purpose of raising it preparatory tofloating it into a new position. As many of these pumps may be used asare necessary to transportthe spoil to the required distance.

C is a suction-pipe connecting the excavator with the pump B. Theswinging portion of this pipe is mounted at the inner end of the wellupon strong trunnions, one of which forms an elbow of the pipe, andpasses through a stuffing-box or other suitable connection into thesuction-pipe of the pump B. Through the other trunnion passes ashaftthat actuates the gears ,that drive the shaft R and bucketwheel E, andlupon these trunnions t-he shaft R, suction-pipe, and excavator swing asthe cutter is raised or lowered to suit the depth at which the work isprogressing.

C is a discharge-pipe. It is provided with a strong flexible section, D,or other suitable joint or mounting at or near the turn-table F or otherpivot or center of oscillation of the dredging-machine or excavatingapparatus, and is constructed and arranged to permit said apparatus ormachine to swing horizontally upon said pivot or pivots withoutmaterially changing the position of said dischargepipe beyond saidmounting, flexible connection, pivot, or pivots. Vhen this pipeisseveral hundred feet in length, I usually support the inner portion bylong narrow hollow tloats,in which case it consists of two parts-aninner oscillating or swinging section (generally composedl of severalshort sections iiexibl y joined to each other and to the dredge-boat)and an outer stationary or non-oscillating sectioniiexibly joined tosaid inner section. This permits the boat to feed forward, and the oscillating section to swing (with the advancing boat) on the j ointconnecting the oscillating and non-oscillating sections. Thedischarge-pipe is provided with the pressure-gage 7, to give notice ofoverpressure and danger of choking of pipe from any sudden change incharacter of spoil. Vhen pipe C is above deck and extends but ashort'distance from the mounting D for discharging alongside, itrequires supporting, and is usually suspended from a mast, the claim forwhich is reserved for another application, now on file.

C is a pipe passing through the receiverX to the exhausting apparatus ofsaid receiver. When used in connection with the pipe C, it may beregarded as the prolongation of said pipe.

C2 is an auxiliary discharge-pipe used in connection with any suitableauxiliary transporting apparatus, and extends from said auxiliary toanother auxiliary transporting agent or apparatus, or to a place ofdeposit.

C3, Fig. 10, is a discharge-pipe extending from a second relay dischargeapparatus to a place of deposit. W'hen a iioating dischargepipe wouldimpede navigation, the greater portion niaylie upon the bottom 5, Fig.9, and when the water is too deep for this lit may be suspended from thebuoys 4 4, Fig. 9, and guys and anchors 6 may, if necessary, be used toprevent the discharge-pipe from being disturbed by winds, waves, orcurrents. When the pipe is to be submerged, it may be advisable toconstructit of thin metallic plates, uniting the several sections withball-andsocket or other strong iiexible connections. In other cases itmay be made of wood or metal,accordin g to the preferences of the user.

E is a rotary bucket-wheel excavator, having radiating bottomlessbuckets 7c, Figs. l, 5, 6, 7, firmly secured at each end to the discalends b Z) of said excavator. These buckets may be stiffened,strengthened, and protected by rings or screens d, passing around,secured to, and preferably projecting beyond the edges of said buckets,Figs. l, 5, 6, 7, 8. These rings may be sharp to cut like the revolvingdisk colters of plows, and serve to divide the material entering thebuckets and to exclude substances too hard to be cut and too coarse topass through the pipe and pump. They serve also as fenders, to enablethe cutter to ride over obstructions without catching and breaking. Theedges of the buckets are sharp and may be provided with detachable steelknives or cutters S, Fig. 6, for working in hard material.

The outer discal end, Figs. l, 3, 6, 8, may be provided withcutting-edges, lips, or scoop c, to obviate the danger of breakage fromjan1 ming against a hard bank as the dredger heaves in the swell of thesea. In making the necessary openings in the discal end to admit thesilt from said scoops said end plate becomes changed to the formofaspider o'r series of arms, which may be strengthened by thel lowerring, d, which may in turn be regarded .as forming a series of bracesextending between the said arms at or near their outer parts. Theseveral parts of .this excavator may be made separate and detachable, orit may be east in a single piece. I do not confine myself to the precisemode described of mounting this excavator-wheel or of freeing it of itscontents. It may be of any desiredsize and proportion of parts, and maydischarge its contents inward through itself into any suitable conduitor receiver. The rings d may be omitted in soft mud free from substancestoo coarse to pass through the pipe and pump, though always at the risko f the projecting buckets catching upon obstructions and get tingbroken.

F, Figs. 1, 2, 10, is asmall cylindrical turntable rotating in acircula'.1 well or frame. It is provided with a strong iange orothersuit- IOC) IIO

able bearing, and is rotated in any convenient manner. Two or morevertical apertures, e e, pass through the turn-table from top to bottomon opposite sides, as shown.

G G2, Figs.'2, 9, are vertical anchors passing loosely through theapertures c c in the turntable into the mud below. They are raised byblocks and tackle attached to the mastf, or in any other usual manner.

H is a counter-balance cylinder connected with the suction-pipe,excavator, and hoisting apparatus to obviate the danger of breakage frompounding upon the bottom in a heavy swell. It is provided with a piston,pistonrod, and gland like a steam-engine. Steam or compressed air isadmitted to the upper side of the piston, the area of'which issufficient very nearly to balance under the given pressure the weight ofthe suction-pipe and exeavator. To the upper end of the piston isattached the hawser L, passing over suitable sheaves in the frame K,thence through the block J', Fig. 3, whence it passes over other sheavesin said frame to the windlass J, by which means the excavator can beraised or lowered by said windlass without interrupting the action ofthe counter-balance. When the drcdger rises on a swell, the excavatorrises also, and as the dredger sinksin the trough of the sea theexcavator falls upon the bot-tom, not with the full weight of theexcavator and suction-pipe, but with the unbalanced weight only,strikingso lightly as not to endangerthe safety ofthe wheel. This deviceis necessary only when dredging ahard bottom in aheavy swell. iVhen notrequired for this purpose, the cylinder H maybe utilized as a 'steam orhydraulic hoist, or be dispensed with altogether.

I is a variable winding device, of which there are many suitable forms.I prefer ordinary winding-drums driven by a separate engine, though `forsimplicity of illustration I have shown tapering dru insh 1,loosel ymounted on a shaft and driven (through V- shaped friction-couplings andsuitable connect-ions) by the main engine. The disengaged drum gives outone warping line as the engaged drum takes in the other. The ofiice ofthis device is to vary the speed of the side feed for the purpose ofregulating the percentages of earth and water delivered to the pump,(without affecting the speed of other parts of the machine.) This speed(with the device shown) is dependent upon the diameter upon which thewarping lines wind, and is varied by shifting the sliding guide-sheavesi i toward or from the larger ends of the drums by means of the handwheels and screws, as shown.

J is awindlass for raising and lowering the excavator.

K is a frame from which the suction-pipe and excavator are suspended.

L is a line or chain for raising, lowering, and counterbalancing theexcavator.

M M are warping lines passing from the hold to the winding-drums 7L h.,around which they make a sutcicnt number of turns to prei vent slipping,whence they pass around suitable guide-sheaves to and through theanchored blocks U U to the outer end of the suctionpipe to which theyare secured, so that the working side strain falls mostly upon the outerend of the suction-pipe, (or of the ladder supporting saidsuction-pipe,if such be used,) and but lightly upon the joints ortrunnions supporting the inner ends of said pipe or ladder. As the outerends of these lines wind upon the drums in the device shown, the innerends unwind and descend to the hold. The office of these lines is toswing the excavating apparatus or the dredger from side to side in theprocess of dredging, and firmly to anchor the excavator end of thedredger when it is not at work, which latter is accomplished by simplyengaging both d ruins 7L h in theirfriction-couplings.

N is a-foree and suction pump. It is used to exhaust the water from thedischarge-pipe for the purpose of raising the submerged portion todilute the spoils, so that they will spread over a large area of land,or to enable them to be transported through long pipes without the aidof a relay-pump to clear the pipes when accidentally choked, should thisever occur, and to prime the pump B, the latter or its suction-pipebeing provided with the usual valve or valves for this purpose. Likemost steam-pumps, it is provided with two suctionorices on oppositesides of the water-chamber and a discharge directly over each suction.To the suction and discharge on one side is connected the branch pipe O,leading into the pipe C. Each branch is provided with valves in theusual manner of arranging a branch pipe to serve for suction anddischarge. The discharge branch only is shown, the suction beingdirectly under it. To the suction on the other side of the water-chamberis secured a valve and pipe communicating with any suitable supply ofwater (usually that in which the drcdger iioats) and sometimes by abranch pipe and valve with thehold of the vessel for dischargingleakage, and by another branch and valve with pump B for priming saidpump by suction. To the discharge above this suction is connected a pipeor hose, that may also be used for priming the pump B by discharginginto it, and for all the various purposes of an ordinary ship-pump. WhenO is used as a suction-pipe to draw from pipe C, the valve on thedischarge branch is closed, the suction branch valve is opened, and thedischarge is through the pipe or hose on the opposite side. XVhen O isused as a dischargepipe to force into pipe C, the suction branch valveis closed, the discharge branch valve is opened, and the suction isthrough the opposite suction-pi pe. iVhen the suction is through thepipe opposite the suction branch of pipe O, the discharge may be throughthe pipe or hose above it or through the discharge branch of O into pipeC', as regulated by the valves to suit the purposes of the user. O is apipe with branches. and valves con- IOO IIC

necting both suction and discharge on one side of the pump N with pipeG, and is either a suction or discharge pipe, as regulated by itsvalves.

P P are long narrow hollow floats, preferably extendinglongitudinallyalong each side of the short sections of thedischarge-pipe for supporting them on t-he water. They maybe made ofwood or metal, and be secured together and to the discharge-pipe bypieces of scantling passing crosswise over and under the pipe andfloats, and fastened with rods passing each side of the pipe and floats,as shown in Fig. l1, though I do not confine myself to this form ofconstruction.

Q is a pulley or gear for actuating the gears c' and excavator E. Itmaybe connected with its shaft by a friction-'coupling.

R is the driving-shaft of the bucket-wheel. It is keyed or otherwisesecured to the hub of the wheel, whence it passes through suitablebearings in the inner chamber up the suctionpipe and through astufiing-box to the gears 27, by which it is actuated.

S is a strong detachable steel knife, sometimes used on the edges of thebuckets when working in hard material. It may be serrated,chisel-toothed, or straight-edged, according to the character of thematerials to be cut, a straight edge being preferable for ordinary work.

T is an inner chamber or shield, around which the bucket-wheel revolvesand into which it discharges. This chamber is provided with a strongiiange, by which it is secured to a similar flange on the end of thesuctionpipe. It is also provided with a large opening, u, Figs. 4, T,through which the spoils enter from the buckets,and through thisopening, Fig. et, is seen a portion of the drivingshaft R and thebearing of said shaft in the end of said chamber. This chamber orshieldforms a bottom for the buckets 7i until they reach the opening a, asshown in the crosssection of the wheel and chamber, Fig. 7. As thebuckets pass this opening, they discharge mud and water into thechamber, as indicated by the inner arrows, the outer arrow showing thedirection of rotation. The office in part of this chamber or shield isto prevent too large a percentage of water from entering with the mud;but when the spoils are of a character to require a large percentage ofwater to carrythem up the suction-pipe or to send them through thedischargepipe, as may sometimes be the case, the chamber may be cut awayuntil only enough remains to support the excavator and shaft B.

U U are blocks anchored at suitable points on each side of the dredgerthrough which pass the warping lines 3 M, for the purpose of swingingthe dredger or the excavating apparatus from side to side. They areusually placed from three hundred to sixhundred feet apart and a littlein advance of the ends of the first cuts made by the excavator to allowa wide swing and avoid the necessity for too frequent change of place asthe work progresses.

V is a branch pipe and valve,through which samples of the spoils aredrawn from the discharge-pipe to enable the operator properly toregulate the speed of the side feed. It is preferably placed aboutone-third the diameter of the discharge-pipe from the lower side of saidpipe, in order to secure a fair average sample.

XV is a small tank resting upon scales. It is provided with a dischargepipe and valve. It is filled with spoils drawn from the dis'-charge-pipe through the branch and valve V, and the speed of the sidefeed is increased or diminished according to the weight of the spoils.

X is a floating mud-receiver carrying the relay-pump or other auxiliarydischarging apparatus, B, and its actuating machinery. The main purposeof this receiver' is to permit the excavator to run continuously,although the relay-pump be stopped for a little while, the receiveraffording a receptacle for the spoils in the meantime. Longitudinallythrough this receiver passes the pipe C to the auxiliary dischargingapparatus B, whence' the pipe C2 extends to another auxiliarydischarging apparatus or to a place of deposit.

Y is a valve on the pipe C within the receiver X. This valve is adjustedto open automatically outward with slight pressure, and serves asarelief-valve in case of stoppage ofthe pump B while the pump B isrunning. It

' serves also as a guide to regulate the speed of pump B', which .shouldbe increased beyond that necessary for preventing the opening of thisvalve, in order to aid by suction as well as forcing. This valve may beset wide open for the purpose of filling the receiver, and may besecurely closed when the pump B is used to force the material into thepump B', for the purpose of increasing the efciencyof thelatter. Itisalso opened to admit air into the discharge-pipe when the water is to bewithdrawn therefrom by pump N.

Z is a branch and valve through which mud is drawn from the receiver tobe discharged through the pipe C2.

Z' is a branch and valve foradmitting water to wash outthe pipe C2 afterthe mud has been discharged from the receiver.

Z2 is a valve for closing the pipe G" while the mud-receiver is beingdischarged, r when said receiver is disconnected from the pipe C', andtakes the mud directly from the dumping or dredging apparatus.

Z: is a pipe and valve used rfor admitting water through the bottom ofthe receiver for the purpose of diluting the mud when it is too stiff topass freely up the branch Z. It may have branch-pipes, with numeroussmall openings, for the more thorough dilution of the spoils. Thisreceiver may be used in connection with any dredging apparatus forcontinnous transportation of the spoils through pipes as the workprogresses; or it may be filled,

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towed to the place of deposit, and there be connected with adischarge-pipe for putt-ing the spoils on shore.

The operation of dredging is as follows: The vertical anchors andexcavator being raised to allow freedom of motion, the dredger is placedin position with the turn-table in line with the longitudinal axis ofthe proposed cut. The turn-table is then rotated until the verticalanchors are also in line with said axis, and both anchors are thendropped into the mud. The discharge-pipe is placed in position, theblocks U U anchored at suitable points for swinging the machine, and thedredger swung round until the excavator reaches the side of the proposedeut, as shown in Fie'. l0. The lines M M are drawn taut, and theexcavator lowered below the surface of the water. The pump B is thenprimed, started, and the excavator set in motion and lowered its entirediameter into the mud. The proper windingdrum is then engaged,and thedredger, swinging on the turn-table as a pivot or center of oscillation,rapidly cuts its way to the opposite side. To secure a steady side feed,the frictioncoupling of the unwinding-drum may be adj usted to keep theunwinding-line sufiiciently taut to prevent voering of the dredger withwind or tide. Upon reaching the opposite side, the winding-drum isdisengaged, the excavator again lowered its full diameter, the side feedreversed, and the dredger cuts back again. This process is repeateduntil the proper depth is obtained. The excavator is then raised abovethe bank in front, the anchor Gr raised, as shown in Fie. 2, and theturn-table rotated upon the anchor G2 until G is squarely in front of G2in line with the longitudinal axis of the proposed excavation, asindicated by the broken-lined outline G', Fig. 2. G is then dropped intothe mud, 'and the worl; proceeds as before, the dredger having been fedforward the distance between the centers of the vertical anchors, whichis fixed to correspond with the cut capable of being made by theexcavator. This arrangement for feeding forward keeps the center ofoscillation of the dredger coincident with that from which the are to becut by the excavator should be cilitate its discharge, which consists inforcdescribed.

A less perfect forward feed is secured by placing the dredger so thatthe excavator is at Lthe side and the turn-table in line with thelongitudinal axis of the proposed excavation. The turn-table is thenrotated until the vertical anchors are in aline parallel with thetransverse axis of the dredger, where it is made stationary. This leavesone anchor diagonally in advance of the other, the dredger lyingdiagonally across one half of the line of the proposed excavation. Theforward anchor is now dropped into the mud to form a pivot upon whichthe dredger swings as it cuts to the opposite side. The dredger thenlies diagonally across the other half of the line of the proposedexcavation, the swing having brought the rear anchor to the front.

This anchor in its turn is dropped to form a new pivot, and tne otheranchor is then raised. The dredgcr swings first upon one and then uponthe other anchor, these anchors being alternately raised and lowered forthis purpose. swinging alternately upon two different pivots gives awedge-shaped out requiring two full swings to make one full cut, it isequivalent to a loss of one-half of the time, and is used only toprevent stoppage of work when the apparatus -for rotating the turn-tableis stopped for repairs or other cause, in which case it becomesvaluable.

Vhat I claim in this division of my application :s-

l. The improvement inthe art of dredging, which consists in oscillatingthe dredge-boat on a center, thereby continuously removing the spoilfrom an arc-shaped surface, conveying the sameinto the boat, and forcingitthence through a closed conduit by a series of iinpulses, diluting thespoils in its passage to facilitate discharge.

2. The improvementin the art of dredging, which consists in successivelyoscillating a dredge-boat about a contained center, thereby removingsuccessive arc-shaped layers while swinging sidewise, substantially asdescribed.

3. The improvement in the art of dredging, which consists in oscillatingthe boat on a contained center, thereby making an arcshaped eut duringthe side movement of the boat, substantially as described.

fl. The described method of dredging, which consists in oscillating thedredge-boat on a contained center, and by such oscillation forcing theexcavator continuously sidewise, and so making an arc-shaped cut andeontinu ously bringing the excavated material inward, substantially asdescribed.

5. The described method of dredging, which consists in oscillating thedredge-boat on a center, and by such oscillation forcing an excavatorcontinuously sidewise, thus making an arc-shaped cut and drawing theexcavated material inboard by suction.

6. The method of diluting the spoils to faing the same through a closedconveyor, and forcing a supplementary diluting substance into saidclosed conveyor.

7. The method of conveying mud from a dredger, which consists in forcingit continuously through a closed conduit by a succession of forwardimpulses, as set forth.

8. The process of transporting mud and semi-liquid material, consistingin forcing the same through a succession of coaetlng pumps and pipes toa place of deposit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALPHONZO B. BOYVERS.

W'itnesses:

W. A. B inrnnin PHILIP Manno.

As this mode of feeding by l ICO IIC

